Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has called on the education minister to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new plan to tackle educational underachievement.

The West Belfast MLA said:

“I’m disappointed that despite the concerns raised by myself and others, including many school principals, the education minister is continuing with his flawed RAISE Programme.

“Poverty is the most significant predictor of educational underachievement and early intervention is vital if we are to make a difference.  

“There are children in working class communities who would really benefit from targeted support but under this bizarre plan, many of them will be excluded.

“Sinn Féin will continue to challenge the DUP Minister on this, and I along with my Sinn Féin colleagues are bringing an Assembly motion calling on the education minister to scrap this plan and replace it with a scheme that delivers targeted support based on objective need.” 

Note to editor: Wording of motion can be found here  – https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/order-papers/session-2024-2025/5-november-2024/